Plenty of questions regarding defense

Monday

Jul 22, 2013 at 8:00 PM

FOXBORO — For decades now, opposing coaches have had major difficulties trying to figure out how Bill Belichick will align his defensive unit. As the Patriots prepare to open training camp for Belichick’s...

By PAUL KENYON

FOXBORO — For decades now, opposing coaches have had major difficulties trying to figure out how Bill Belichick will align his defensive unit. As the Patriots prepare to open training camp for Belichick’s 39th year in the NFL, his 19th as a head coach, New England fans will know what opposing coaches have gone through.

Rarely, if ever in his career, has a Belichick team begun a season with more question marks on defense as this team will have.

The situation is harder to figure than usual because the questions revolve around both alignment and personnel. There were indications during mini-camp that Belichick is leaning toward — or at least considering — a return to the 4-3 alignment as his base defense, rather than the 3-4 which his teams have used heavily in the last two years.

The two players who worked on the inside of the defensive line with Vince Wilfork — Brandon Deaderick and Kyle Love — have both been released. The new players the Pats brought in, both through free-agent signings and the draft, appear suited more to playing on the edge than on the inside. For his part, Belichick has regularly dismissed talk about what his defense will use as its base. As he points out, the team has played more than half the time in recent years in sub defenses. Belichick, of course, is one of the masters in the league in employing different types of defensive sets.

What is perhaps more important than the alignment the team will use is the caliber of players the team will put on the field. The defense has not held up its part of the bargain for the last several years. However he does it, Belichick has to figure out a way for his defense to play better, especially since the offense likely will not be as dominant as it has in recent years.

Belichick has team leaders. The defense has foundation players. Wilfork, Jerod Mayo, Rob Ninkovich, Chandler Jones, Devin McCourty and Aqib Talib will be the main men. They will play somewhere. After that, little is set as the Patriots prepare for team meetings Thursday and their first practice on Friday.

There are at least 20 players who appear to have a chance to see heavy duty on defense. It figures to make training camp and the preseason games more important than usual. It will be interesting to see what Belichick decides to do.

The situation up front is wide open beyond Wilfork and Jones. The team has signed veteran Tommy Kelly away from Oakland. He can play inside or outside. Two wild cards are Armond Armstead and Jason Vega, both signed out of the Canadian League. Armstead, in particular, could be a significant contributor. He is a former USC star who has had health issues but looks to have the talent to play in the NFL.

Young players like Justin Francis and Jake Bequette likely will either step up or be gone. Ninkovich will play somewhere, the question is whether it is in a two-point or four-point stance. Jermaine Cunningham, who has been a bit of a disappointment as a former second-round draft choice, will be fighting for a job.

One rookie who turned some heads in mini-camp and looks as if he could emerge is seventh-round choice Michael Buchanan, a 6-foot-6, 255-pounder with pass-rushing skills.

There will be battles for playing time at linebacker, as well. Mayo is set and second-year man Dont’a Hightower should be, too. The situation with Brandon Spikes will be closely monitored. The former Florida star has proven he is one of the biggest hitters in the NFL. He is terrific against the run. But he has had major issues in pass coverage.

He is in the final year of his contract. He was the only player on the team who did not take part in the OTAs. He said it was to work with a fitness company to help improve his mobility. What happens with him could impact the linebacking situation heavily. As mentioned, Belichick has all kinds of options on both how to align and how to use his edge rushers. One player to watch who could provide help at linebacker is seventh-round draft choice Steve Beauharnais, one of the eight former Rutgers players on the roster.

The defensive backfield remains the biggest defensive question, as it has been for several years.

The re-signing of Talib to a one-year, $5-million contract should help stabilize matters. While Talib has had his problems in the past, he has performed well for the Pats since he was obtained from Tampa Bay. One of the team’s key issues will be deciding who plays the other corner. Alfonzo Dennard looked to have taken that spot. But his status is very much up in the air after his second arrest in Nebraska.

The Pats have kept him, but it appears all but certain that Dennard’s legal problems will keep off the field for a significant portion, if not the entire season. Kyle Arrington, who had fallen into the role of the third cornerback covering the slot receiver, could have to move back outside.

Given their choice, the Pats probably prefer to keep Arrington inside and have someone else step up to play the corner opposite Talib. Ras-I Dowling has the talent, but has yet to be able to stay on the field. Third-round choice Logan Ryan, another former Rutgers player, stood out at times this summer and could be a significant contributor from the start.

The team already has made one change. The first three practices, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, all will be at 9 a.m. rather than in the afternoon, as has been the case in the past. The Hall of Fame induction for Tedi Bruschi and Gil Santos has been moved to 4 p.m. on Monday.